The owners requested that their home harmonize with the spirit of the surrounding Colorado mountain setting and enhance their outdoor recreational lifestyle - while reflecting their contemporary architectural tastes. The site was burdened with a myriad of strict design criteria enforced by the neighborhood covenants and architectural review board. Creating a distinct design challenge, the covenants included a narrow interpretation of a “mountain style” home which established predetermined roof pitches, glazing percentages and material palettes - at direct odds with the client‘s vision of a flat-roofed, glass, “contemporary” home. Our solution finds inspiration and opportunities within the site covenant’s strict definitions. It promotes and celebrates the client’s outdoor lifestyle and resolves the definition of a contemporary “mountain style” home by reducing the architecture to its most basic vernacular forms and relying upon local materials. The home utilizes a simple base, middle and top that echoes the surrounding mountains and vegetation. The massing takes its cues from the prevalent lodgepole pine trees that grow at the mountain’s high altitudes. These pine trees have a distinct growth pattern, highlighted by a single vertical trunk and a peaked, densely foliated growth zone above a sparse base. This growth pattern is referenced by placing the wood-clad body of the home at the second story above an open base composed of wood posts and glass. A simple peaked roof rests lightly atop the home - visually floating above a triangular glass transom. The home itself is neatly inserted amongst an existing grove of lodgepole pines and oriented to take advantage of panoramic views of the adjacent meadow and Continental Divide beyond. The main functions of the house are arranged into public and private areas and this division is made apparent on the home’s exterior. Two large roof forms, clad in pre-patinated zinc, are separated by a sheltering central deck - which signals the main entry to the home. At this connection, the roof deck is opened to allow a cluster of aspen trees to grow – further reinforcing nature as an integral part of arrival. Outdoor living spaces are provided on all levels of the house and are positioned to take advantage of sunrise and sunset moments. The distinction between interior and exterior space is blurred via the use of large expanses of glass. The dry stacked stone base and natural cedar cladding both reappear within the home’s interior spaces. This home offers a unique solution to the client’s requests while satisfying the design requirements of the neighborhood covenants. The house provides a variety of indoor and outdoor living spaces that can be utilized in all seasons. Most importantly, the house takes its cues directly from its natural surroundings and local building traditions to become a prototype solution for the “modern mountain house”. Overview Ranch Creek Ranch Winter Park, Colorado Completion Date October, 2007 Services Architecture, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture

Over the course of six weeks we took their home from slightly outdated to stylishly modern. We began our work in the kitchen. Their existing space included oak raised panel cabinets and laminate countertops. We identified two problems right off the bat. First, the kitchen was home to an unfortunately placed island that broke up the room and made for horrible traffic flow. Second, the family was “oaked out,” with obviously dated oak cabinets abounding. The homeowners also requested that their countertops be replaced with a durable and low-maintenance material. To begin, we replaced the island and created a peninsula to open up the kitchen. We upgraded the cabinets with Showplace Wood cherry cabinets in a truffle finish that matched the home’s entertainment center in the adjacent living room. Next, we replaced the family’s door with a Showplace Wood Concord style for a more modern feel. Finally, we swapped the existing laminate counters with Cambria natural quartz countertops in the Canterbury finish for a beautiful, maintenance free work surface. Moving into the laundry room, we installed matching cabinets in this space as well. Last but not least, we installed new Wilsonart HD countertops and a Swanstone sink. With the remodel complete, we checked in with our homeowners and are happy to report pleased customers all around!

This LEED Platinum certified house reflects the homeowner's desire for an exceptionally healthy and comfortable living environment, within a traditional neighborhood. INFILL SITE. The family, who moved from another area of Wellesley, sought out this property to be within walking distance of the high school and downtown area. An existing structure on the tight lot was removed to make way for the new home. 84% of the construction waste, from both the previous structure and the new home, was diverted from a landfill. ZED designed to preserve the existing mature trees on the perimeter of the property to minimize site impacts, and to maintain the character of the neighborhood as well as privacy on the site. EXTERIOR EXPRESSION. The street facade of the home relates to the local New England vernacular. The rear uses contemporary language, a nod to the family’s Californian roots, to incorporate a roof deck, solar panels, outdoor living space, and the backyard swimming pool. ZED’s careful planning avoided to the need to face the garage doors towards the street, a common syndrome of a narrow lot. THOUGHTFUL SPACE. Homes with dual entries can often result in duplicate and unused spaces. In this home, the everyday and formal entry areas are one and the same; the front and garage doors share the entry program of coat closets, mudroom storage with bench for removing your shoes, and a laundry room with generous closets for the children's sporting equipment. The entry area leads directly to the living space, encompassing the kitchen, dining and sitting area areas in an L-shaped open plan arrangement. The kitchen is placed at the south-west corner of the space to allow for a strong connection to the dining, sitting and outdoor living spaces. A fire pit on the deck satisfies the family’s desire for an open flame while a sealed gas fireplace is used indoors - ZED’s preference after omitting gas burning appliances completely from an airtight home. A small study, with a window seat, is conveniently located just off of the living space. A first floor guest bedroom includes an accessible bathroom for aging visitors and can be used as a master suite to accommodate aging in place. HEALTHY LIVING. The client requested a home that was easy to clean and would provide a respite from seasonal allergies and common contaminants that are found in many indoor spaces. ZED selected easy to clean solid surface flooring throughout, provided ample space for cleaning supplies on each floor, and designed a mechanical system with ventilation that provides a constant supply of fresh outdoor air. ZED selected durable materials, finishes, cabinetry, and casework with low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and no added urea formaldehyde. YEAR-ROUND COMFORT. The home is super insulated and air-tight, paired with high performance triple-paned windows, to ensure it is draft-free throughout the winter (even when in front of the large windows and doors). ZED designed a right-sized heating and cooling system to pair with the thermally improved building enclosure to ensure year-round comfort. The glazing on the home maximizes passive solar gains, and facilitates cross ventilation and daylighting. ENERGY EFFICIENT. As one of the most energy efficient houses built to date in Wellesley, the home highlights a practical solution for Massachusetts. First, the building enclosure reduces the largest energy requirement for typical houses (heating). Super-insulation, exceptional air sealing, a thermally broken wall assembly, triple pane windows, and passive solar gain combine for a sizable heating load reduction. Second, within the house only efficient systems consume energy. These include an air source heat pump for heating & cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation, and high efficiency appliances. Lastly, photovoltaics provide renewable energy help offset energy consumption. The result is an 89% reduction in energy use compared to a similar brand new home built to code requirements. RESILIENT. The home will fare well in extreme weather events. During a winter power outage, heat loss will be very slow due to the super-insulated and airtight envelope– taking multiple days to drop to 60 degrees even with no heat source. An engineered drainage system, paired with careful the detailing of the foundation, will help to keep the finished basement dry. A generator will provide full operation of the all-electric house during a power outage. OVERALL. The home is a reflection of the family goals and an expression of their values, beautifully enabling health, comfort, safety, resilience, and utility, all while respecting the planet. ZED - Architect & Mechanical Designer Bevilacqua Builders Inc - Contractor Creative Land & Water Engineering - Civil Engineering Barbara Peterson Landscape - Landscape Design Nest & Company - Interior Furnishings Eric Roth Photography - Photography

Our clients requested not only an update of this previously dark and dated library,, but to make it lighter and more inviting. The challenge was the dark wood paneling that had a very dated orange under-tone. The floors were also stained with an orange under-tone making for a very claustrophobic feel. By painting the walls a soft greige and darkening the floors to a more neutral brown, we were able to cut the "orange" and create more contrast. The existing wainscot actually popped with more definition once the walls were painted. By layering the area rugs we created a comfortable conversation area removed from the desk on the other side. Once again, our clients had fabulous artwork that we were able to frame and group to each piece's advantage. Recessed lighting that washed the walls lightened the space avoiding the harsh glare of typical down lights.

This LEED Platinum certified house reflects the homeowner's desire for an exceptionally healthy and comfortable living environment, within a traditional neighborhood. INFILL SITE. The family, who moved from another area of Wellesley, sought out this property to be within walking distance of the high school and downtown area. An existing structure on the tight lot was removed to make way for the new home. 84% of the construction waste, from both the previous structure and the new home, was diverted from a landfill. ZED designed to preserve the existing mature trees on the perimeter of the property to minimize site impacts, and to maintain the character of the neighborhood as well as privacy on the site. EXTERIOR EXPRESSION. The street facade of the home relates to the local New England vernacular. The rear uses contemporary language, a nod to the family’s Californian roots, to incorporate a roof deck, solar panels, outdoor living space, and the backyard swimming pool. ZED’s careful planning avoided to the need to face the garage doors towards the street, a common syndrome of a narrow lot. THOUGHTFUL SPACE. Homes with dual entries can often result in duplicate and unused spaces. In this home, the everyday and formal entry areas are one and the same; the front and garage doors share the entry program of coat closets, mudroom storage with bench for removing your shoes, and a laundry room with generous closets for the children's sporting equipment. The entry area leads directly to the living space, encompassing the kitchen, dining and sitting area areas in an L-shaped open plan arrangement. The kitchen is placed at the south-west corner of the space to allow for a strong connection to the dining, sitting and outdoor living spaces. A fire pit on the deck satisfies the family’s desire for an open flame while a sealed gas fireplace is used indoors - ZED’s preference after omitting gas burning appliances completely from an airtight home. A small study, with a window seat, is conveniently located just off of the living space. A first floor guest bedroom includes an accessible bathroom for aging visitors and can be used as a master suite to accommodate aging in place. HEALTHY LIVING. The client requested a home that was easy to clean and would provide a respite from seasonal allergies and common contaminants that are found in many indoor spaces. ZED selected easy to clean solid surface flooring throughout, provided ample space for cleaning supplies on each floor, and designed a mechanical system with ventilation that provides a constant supply of fresh outdoor air. ZED selected durable materials, finishes, cabinetry, and casework with low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and no added urea formaldehyde. YEAR-ROUND COMFORT. The home is super insulated and air-tight, paired with high performance triple-paned windows, to ensure it is draft-free throughout the winter (even when in front of the large windows and doors). ZED designed a right-sized heating and cooling system to pair with the thermally improved building enclosure to ensure year-round comfort. The glazing on the home maximizes passive solar gains, and facilitates cross ventilation and daylighting. ENERGY EFFICIENT. As one of the most energy efficient houses built to date in Wellesley, the home highlights a practical solution for Massachusetts. First, the building enclosure reduces the largest energy requirement for typical houses (heating). Super-insulation, exceptional air sealing, a thermally broken wall assembly, triple pane windows, and passive solar gain combine for a sizable heating load reduction. Second, within the house only efficient systems consume energy. These include an air source heat pump for heating & cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation, and high efficiency appliances. Lastly, photovoltaics provide renewable energy help offset energy consumption. The result is an 89% reduction in energy use compared to a similar brand new home built to code requirements. RESILIENT. The home will fare well in extreme weather events. During a winter power outage, heat loss will be very slow due to the super-insulated and airtight envelope– taking multiple days to drop to 60 degrees even with no heat source. An engineered drainage system, paired with careful the detailing of the foundation, will help to keep the finished basement dry. A generator will provide full operation of the all-electric house during a power outage. OVERALL. The home is a reflection of the family goals and an expression of their values, beautifully enabling health, comfort, safety, resilience, and utility, all while respecting the planet. ZED - Architect & Mechanical Designer Bevilacqua Builders Inc - Contractor Creative Land & Water Engineering - Civil Engineering Barbara Peterson Landscape - Landscape Design Nest & Company - Interior Furnishings Eric Roth Photography - Photography

Renovation of an Italian Classic home. The use of these particular pieces of furniture dated 1800's keep the traditional Italian feel. The colors requested by the customers are included at their best in this ambience.

Von Tobel kitchen & bath designer, Amanda Szamatowicz, transformed this dated kitchen into a Tuscan getaway using Kraftmaid Vanderbilt Cherry cabinets in Cannon Grey, countertops of Vicostone Florence Gold, and finished the space with a grougrous backsplash from Paramount in Havana Malecon 4x8 size. Want one of our designers to redesign your space with a special place in mind? Request your free design consultation today!

Von Tobel kitchen & bath designer, Amanda Szamatowicz, transformed this dated kitchen into a Tuscan getaway using Kraftmaid Vanderbilt Cherry cabinets in Cannon Grey, countertops of Vicostone Florence Gold, and finished the space with a grougrous backsplash from Paramount in Havana Malecon 4x8 size. Want one of our designers to redesign your space with a special place in mind? Request your free design consultation today!

Our coffee loving client really only had two requests! And that was to ensure he had a proper display for his coffee machinery, and a waterfall island! He entrusted us with the other details! By selecting a versatile LVP and bringing the cabinets up closer to the ceiling, we achieved a grander look. Crisp white and deep blue cabinetry paired with a clean white quartz and geometric backsplash brought this kitchen up to date. Finally, touches of walnut and mixed metals added a touch of class.

Our coffee loving client really only had two requests! And that was to ensure he had a proper display for his coffee machinery, and a waterfall island! He entrusted us with the other details! By selecting a versatile LVP and bringing the cabinets up closer to the ceiling, we achieved a grander look. Crisp white and deep blue cabinetry paired with a clean white quartz and geometric backsplash brought this kitchen up to date. Finally, touches of walnut and mixed metals added a touch of class.

Von Tobel kitchen & bath designer, Amanda Szamatowicz, transformed this dated kitchen into a Tuscan getaway using Kraftmaid Vanderbilt Cherry cabinets in Cannon Grey, countertops of Vicostone Florence Gold, and finished the space with a grougrous backsplash from Paramount in Havana Malecon 4x8 size. Want one of our designers to redesign your space with a special place in mind? Request your free design consultation today!

Our coffee loving client really only had two requests! And that was to ensure he had a proper display for his coffee machinery, and a waterfall island! He entrusted us with the other details! By selecting a versatile LVP and bringing the cabinets up closer to the ceiling, we achieved a grander look. Crisp white and deep blue cabinetry paired with a clean white quartz and geometric backsplash brought this kitchen up to date. Finally, touches of walnut and mixed metals added a touch of class.

Our coffee loving client really only had two requests! And that was to ensure he had a proper display for his coffee machinery, and a waterfall island! He entrusted us with the other details! By selecting a versatile LVP and bringing the cabinets up closer to the ceiling, we achieved a grander look. Crisp white and deep blue cabinetry paired with a clean white quartz and geometric backsplash brought this kitchen up to date. Finally, touches of walnut and mixed metals added a touch of class.

Jess Blackwell Photography

Our coffee loving client really only had two requests! And that was to ensure he had a proper display for his coffee machinery, and a waterfall island! He entrusted us with the other details! By selecting a versatile LVP and bringing the cabinets up closer to the ceiling, we achieved a grander look. Crisp white and deep blue cabinetry paired with a clean white quartz and geometric backsplash brought this kitchen up to date. Finally, touches of walnut and mixed metals added a touch of class.

Our coffee loving client really only had two requests! And that was to ensure he had a proper display for his coffee machinery, and a waterfall island! He entrusted us with the other details! By selecting a versatile LVP and bringing the cabinets up closer to the ceiling, we achieved a grander look. Crisp white and deep blue cabinetry paired with a clean white quartz and geometric backsplash brought this kitchen up to date. Finally, touches of walnut and mixed metals added a touch of class.

Our coffee loving client really only had two requests! And that was to ensure he had a proper display for his coffee machinery, and a waterfall island! He entrusted us with the other details! By selecting a versatile LVP and bringing the cabinets up closer to the ceiling, we achieved a grander look. Crisp white and deep blue cabinetry paired with a clean white quartz and geometric backsplash brought this kitchen up to date. Finally, touches of walnut and mixed metals added a touch of class.

Our coffee loving client really only had two requests! And that was to ensure he had a proper display for his coffee machinery, and a waterfall island! He entrusted us with the other details! By selecting a versatile LVP and bringing the cabinets up closer to the ceiling, we achieved a grander look. Crisp white and deep blue cabinetry paired with a clean white quartz and geometric backsplash brought this kitchen up to date. Finally, touches of walnut and mixed metals added a touch of class.